Light transmissive dock deck surface

ABSTRACT

A marine dock deck surface includes a light transmissive portion allowing sunlight to pass through the deck surface into the water. The light transmissive portion is formed of a sunlight transparent or translucent material. The light transmissive portion may extend over substantially the entire deck surface. Alternately, the light transmissive portion may be part of an overall deck surface which includes opaque portions.

BACKGROUND

Marine docks are used to enable access to moored boats and other marinevessels or watercrafts which are positioned in deep water away from ashoreline.

Docks are available in may types and configurations including, to name afew, floating docks where the individual dock sections float directly onthe water surface, as well as elevated docks which rest on stanchions orpiers fixed in the water bed so as to position the dock deck above thewater surface.

Docks are typically formed of marine grade materials, such as wood,plastic, etc. These materials present a substantially solid, opaquesurface which blocks sunlight from reaching and penetrating the waterbeneath the docks. The lack of sunlight results in a deterioration ofthe health of the marine environment in the water beneath the deckleading to a decline in marine life, aquatic plant growth and reducedoxygen levels.

Therefore it would be desirable to provide a marine dock which allowssunlight to pass through the dock to the underlying water surface andwaterbeds.

SUMMARY

A marine dock deck surface includes a light transmissive portion toallow sunlight or solar radiation to pass through the deck surface intothe water to prevent the deterioration of marine light and aquatic plantgrowth beneath the deck.

The marine deck includes at least one or more deck members with thelight transmissive portion carried on the at least one deck member.

The marine deck may include a frame, with the at least one deck membermounted to the frame.

Substantially all of a plurality of deck members maybe formed of a lighttransmissive material.

The light transmissive portion is formed of a material which istransparent or translucent to sunlight.

In one aspect, the at least one deck member and the frame maybe formedas a one piece molded unitary deck section.

The at least one deck member maybe attachable to dock stanchions.

The at least one deck member may simulate a wood plank.

In another aspect, a marine deck includes a light transmissive portionallowing sunlight to pass therethrough. The light transmissive portionis formed of a material which is transparent or translucent to sunlight.

In another aspect, the marine may also include opaque portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various features, advantages and other uses of the present inventionwill become more apparent by referring to the following detaileddescription and drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one aspect of a light transmissivemarine dock;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of another aspect of a light transmissivemarine dock deck surface;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another aspect of a light transmissivemarine dock deck surface; and

FIG. 4 is a respective view of another aspect of a light transmissivemarine dock deck surface.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

By example only, a marine dock 10 is depicted in FIG. 1 as having a deck12 which is supported on a frame structure 14 secured to a plurality ofposts, piers or stanchions 16 supported at one end in the water bed.

The dock may also include a plurality of modular or individual sections,each having a deck 12 and a frame 14. The frame 14 may be fixed to thepiers or stanchions 16 by any suitable means, such as fasteners, etc.

The frame 14 may take other suitable configurations such as a pluralityof individual frame members all denoted by reference number 18 in FIGS.1 and 2 which are secured together to form a support structure for thedeck 12. The members 18 may be formed of suitable marine compatiblematerials, such as wood, various plastics, etc.

The entire dock 10 may be formed of suitable marine compatiblematerials, such as wood, various plastics, etc. The deck 12 may be asingle piece or multiple, separate pieces of material which are fixed tothe underlying frame 14 by fasteners, adhesive, etc. Alternately, thedeck 12, may be integrally molded or otherwise formed as a one-piecepart of the frame 14 to form a modular one-piece deck section which canbe mounted to the stanchions 16 and butted up against adjacent likeconstructed dock sections to form an enlarged dock of any configuration,size and shape.

By way of example only, the deck 12, as shown in FIG. 2, is formed witha plurality of simulated plants 20, which are molded in the surface ofthe deck 12 to stimulate transversely extending wood boards.Alternately, the planks or slates 20 may be formed as discrete pieceswhich are secured by fasteners, adhesive, to the underlying frame 14.

The deck 12, which may take any configuration as described above,including, but not limited to, one or more individual discrete deckmembers mounted on or integrally molded with the frame 14, is formed ofa light transmissive material, such as a clear and transparent materialor a translucent material, to allow sunlight to pass through the deck 12to prevent the deterioration of marine life and aquatic plant growthunderneath the deck 12 which is typically shielded from the sun.

Transparent materials which can be used to form the deck 12 includetransparent glass or plastic, for example, which allow sunlight or solarradiation to pass therethrough without appreciable scattering.Translucent materials which can be used to form the deck 12 includetranslucent glass or plastic which allow sunlight or solar radiation topass therethrough while scattering the light or solar radiation as itpasses through the deck 12.

One material which may be employed for the deck 12 is clear ortranslucent glass. Various transparent or translucent plastics, such aspolycarbonates, polyurethanes, and Lexan may also be employed.

In the case of a multiple piece dock assembly, the deck 12 may be formedof a light transmissive material and the frame 14 may be constructed ofan opaque material. This arrangement also minimizes the extent of shadedareas underneath the dock 10.

Alternately, where the deck 12 is integrally molded with the frame 14,both the deck 12 and the frame 14 can be formed of a transparent ortranslucent material, as described above.

In another alternate configuration, a marine dock deck surface orsection 30, shown in FIG. 3, is similar to the unitarily molded deck 12shown in FIG. 2 but is formed of discrete light transmissive portions 32and 34 for example which alternate or are interspaced with opaque decksurface portions 36, 38 and 40, for example. The interspersing of thelight transmissive sections or portions 32 and 34 and the opaqueportions 36, 38 and 40 are shown only by example in FIG. 3 as the lighttransmissive portions 32 and 34 may be located at any position along thedeck section 30, such as side by side at one end of the deck section 30,or at opposite ends with the opaque portions 36, 38 and 40 closely spacetogether or abutting and located between the spaced light transmissivesections 32 and 34.

In addition, the deck 30 shown in FIG. 3 depicts the light transmissivesections 32 and 34 the opaque sections 36, 38 and 40 as in the form ofsimulated wood planks which extend from both longitudinal sides of thedeck 30. This is by way of example only as it will be understood thatthe light transmissive portions 32 and 34 as well as the opaque portions36, 38, and 40 may be configured to be only a center plant orintermediate portion of each simulated plank.

This can be accomplished by the use of an insert molding process where alight transmissive material is injected into one portion of a moldconfigured to form the deck 30 adjacent to a portion of the same moldwhich receives an opaque material. A step insert molding process, whereeach step involves the injection of a light transmissive or an opaquematerial into one or more molds may also be employed.

Referring now to FIG. 4 there is depicted another aspect of a deck 41 inwhich the deck 41 is depicted by way of example only as a one pieceunitary member which can be formed of plastic or other material. Thedeck 41 includes a peripheral frame 42 which can be attached to thestanchions 16. The peripheral frame 42 includes at least one centrallylocated window or opening 44 which extends completely through the frame42 from a top deck surface 46 to a bottom deck surface 48. The lighttransmissive deck surface or portion 50 is fixed in the window 44 in theframe 42. The deck section 50 is formed of a light transmissivematerial, such as glass, plastic.

The deck 41 may be formed of multiple components, such as a multiplepiece frame 42 in which the individual frame sections are joinedtogether by fasteners, etc. to form the desired frame shape. The lighttransmissive deck surface 50 may also be formed of one or more sectionswhich are separately mounted in the window 44 in the frame 42 and fixedthereto by fasteners, adhesive, inter-locking surfaces, etc.

Alternately, the frame 42 and light transmissive deck surface 50 mayinsert molded together into one piece unitary member.

Further, a light transmissive deck, as described above, can be retrofitonto an existing dock frame and/or stanchion. Such a deck can be mountedon an existing dock frame or, if integrally molded with a frame,directly on to the existing stanchion.

Thus, there is disclosed a marine dock a deck surface formed of a lighttransmissive material to allow sunlight to pass through the decksurface.

1. A marine deck comprising: a light transmissive portion allowing sunlight to pass therethrough.
 2. The marine deck of claim 1 further comprising: at least one deck member, the light transmissive portion carried on the at least one deck member.
 3. The marine deck of claim 2 wherein: the at least one deck member is attachable to dock stanchions.
 4. The marine deck of claim 2 wherein: the at least one deck member simulates a wood plank.
 5. The marine deck of claim 2 further comprising: a frame, the at least one deck member mounted to the frame.
 6. The marine deck of claim 5 wherein: the at least one deck member includes a plurality of deck members mounted to the frame.
 7. The marine deck of claim 6 wherein: the light transmissive portion is carried by at least one of the deck members.
 8. The marine deck of claim 6 wherein: substantially all of the plurality of deck members are formed of a light transmissive material.
 9. The marine deck of claim 5 wherein: the at least one deck member and the frame are formed as a one piece molded unitary deck section.
 10. The marine deck of claim 1 wherein: the light transmissive portion is formed of a material transparent to sunlight.
 11. The marine deck of claim 1 wherein: the light transmissive portion is formed of a material translucent to sunlight.
 12. A marine deck comprising: a deck section having a light transmissive portion allowing sunlight to pass therethrough.
 13. The marine deck of claim 12 wherein: the light transmissive portion is formed of a material which is one of transparent and translucent to sunlight.
 14. The marine deck of claim 12 wherein: the deck section further includes opaque portions. 